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Sony Japan Asia President responds to new PlayStation censorship policies

During a recent promotional event in Japan, a fan asked SIE Japan Asia President Atsushi Morita about Sony’s recent censorship of games with sexual themes and how the company balances freedom of expression in mature games.

“About the censorship, we tried to meet global standards,” Morita said. “Regarding the balance of the freedom of expression and safety for children, it’s a tough problem to deal with.”

So far, Sony’s new policy towards games with sexual themes has led to the cancellation of Omega Labyrinth Z’s western release and gameplay modes/features being removed from both Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Scarlet and Senran Kagura Re:Newal. One game, Nora to Oujo to Noraneko Heart, was censored so much that it went from a M-rated (Mature 17+) title to an E for Everyone rating on PS4. There are also indications that the critically acclaimed Catherine remaster may be irreparably scarred when the Taliban-esque elements at Sony throw their ideological acid all over it.

Consumers can always vote with their wallets, though at the moment, it’s unknown whether Sony’s censorious turn has resulted in a significant loss of revenue. It’s also possible that the enthusiasm around the inevitable PlayStation 5 announcement may be affected if these policies persist. We’ll keep you updated as these issues develop.